Rumor: Kidd and Garnett to retire if there’s a lockout

This could be it because it would be hard to come back after a lockout,” Kidd told Yahoo! Sports. “I would probably move on and join the next chapter of what I would be doing in life. But I hope that isn’t the case where it just ended without having one more season.”

Garnett has hinted he could be done if the lockout cancels next season while O’Neal told Yahoo! Sports in an e-mail he’ll likely try to keep playing. Regardless, the NBA could be waving farewell to a generation of stars sooner than expected.

Suppose a lockout between the owners and Player’s Association lasts for the entire 2012 season. Several well tenured players –for instance, like Garnett and Kidd- will call it a day and retire.

After all, missing a season in your mid to late thirties is a death sentence. Such a long layoff would likely make returning difficult, and most veterans would move into the next stage of their life.

Sadly, a work stoppage would likely mean the end for Garnett and Kidd, two of the best players of their generation. And these future members of the Hall of Fame won’t receive the grand send off they deserve.